“In the current milieu, areas like finance, marketing and systems management will fuel innovation, while start-up ventures will unleash creativity,” he said while addressing the Annual Convocation 2009 at IIM Ahmedabad (IIM A) on March 28, 2009.
Commenting on the current recession, Mr Parekh says, “Things have changed dramatically in last one year or so. A year ago, the Indian economy was brimming with confidence. But when one looks at the enormity of the crisis today, the truth is that we were all caught off-guard. One underestimated how coupled the global economy was. Who would have imagined that the free market theory would come under intense scrutiny as governments all over the world are now adopting policies with greater emphasis on the fiscal role with bailouts, stimulus packages and outright nationalization.”
Urging students to help world economy gain shine again, he says, “The world at this juncture needs you more than ever before. It needs your bold ideas, your energy and passion. It needs doers and dreamers and optimists. It needs people who believe things can get better and people who are willing to work to make them better. It needs you not merely when the markets are up, when money is easy, when banks are only too eager to lend but now, in testing and challenging times. We do not need magic to change the world; we carry all the power we need inside already. These are difficult and trying times.”
“Be the change that you want to see in the world. Regardless of where you land yourselves, be it private-sector industry, public service, legal or entrepreneurial practice, artists or entertainers. You will be tested to keep your ethical and moral values as it is very easy to get carried away. It’s up to you to stay alert and not get sucked into disreputable conduct, business practices or anything else which has even the slightest whiff of impropriety. The more successful you get, the higher the chances of being pulled into unethical and immoral business practices. The basics are work honestly, make people trust you and let them depend on your integrity,” Mr Parekh says.
While giving students mantras to success, Mr Parikh concludes, “Be a good team player. It isn’t always possible to run the whole mile alone. Remember that being able to get along and work with other people is a great asset in the corporate world. People are important and nothing can happen without them. Apart from that stay humble, but know and believe in yourself. Humility is essential for self-preservation – it helps you to cross all barriers in life and career.”
Adani Institute launches specialized programs to cater infrastructure sector
To provide quality education and training to students in the infrastructure sector, newly established Adani Institute of Infrastructure Management (AIIM), Ahmedabad, offers one-year Post Graduate Programme in Infrastructure Management (PGPIM) and some short-duration programmes.
While exclusively talking to MBAUniverse.com, Dr Bakul Dholakia, Director AIIM, says, “The institute has been set up with a vision to provide high-quality education and training to young persons for shouldering the managerial responsibilities in the infrastructure and allied sectors.”
AIIM, which is owned by the Adani Group of companies, will initially offer one-year, full time, residential, PGPIM from September, 2009. Apart from this, there are some short duration programmes for executives at both senior as well as middle management levels.
PGPIM will be specifically positioned as a unique programme in Infrastructure Management. Launching such a unique long duration programme will also achieve the purpose of creating a think tank of AIIM faculty who will develop sector-specific expertise by concentrating on focused Research, Case Material Development and Consultancy in the Infrastructure & Allied sectors.
When asked about the objective behind the launch of the PGPIM course, AIIM director Dr Dholakia said, “All One-Year programmes currently being offered by Indian Business Schools are essentially General Management Programmes. Some Business Schools offer One-Year programmes with specialization in either Ports & Shipping, or Oil & Gas, but no reputed foreign or Indian Business School offers full time One-Year Programme covering the entire spectrum of infrastructure and allied sectors. PGPIM aims at filling this gap.”
The programme is meant for bright & young executives with significant work experience. The candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline; should be Minimum 25 years of age as on September 01, 2009; and must have taken GMAT/CAT exam after January 01, 2006.
The Programme Fee for the inaugural batch (2009-10) will be INR 10.00 Lakhs. The programme fee includes tuition fees, basic programme material, library & network charges, and accommodation on single occupancy basis.
More specifically, the Programme Fee does not include the expenses on food, the costs of the Study Visits within India and overseas and the cost of Laptop, which will have to be borne by the participants. Total expenses on food and study visits are likely to be around INR 2.25 lakhs.
Admission to PGPIM will be a two-stage process: Stage I will be the Assessment of Candidate’s Profile coupled with GMAT or CAT score; and stage II will include personal interview. The final selection will be based on the following criteria: Academic Record; Professional Experience; Accomplishments (academic, professional and extra curricular); GMAT Score or CAT Score; and Interview.
As far as the short-duration programmes are concerned, AIIM has already designed and offered two General Management Programmes for the senior executives of the Adani Group companies. AIIM also plans to design and offer specialized programmes in selected fields such as Project Management, Management of Ports & Shipping, Management of Transport Network, Management of Power Projects and other programmes focusing on Infrastructure Sector to be designed by the Institute Faculty.
